Cirrus@Austlit

Sofya Gollan graduated from Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) with a degree in Performing Arts (Acting) in 1992. She also graduated from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS).

Gollan, who is chronically deaf, originally intended a career as an actor, and spent three years with the Australian Theatre of the Deaf, with which she auditioned when she was 16, and a shorter period with the American equivalent. Concerned that she would be typecast, she then applied for NIDA at age 22. After graduating from NIDA, she went on to the AFTRS, where she completed the director's course.

After graduating from the AFTRS, Gollan went on to make a succession of short films, culminating in the hour-long Gothic romance Preservation, starring Jacqueline McKenzie and Jack Finsterer. Her most recent short film Gimpsey touches on issues of disability, and stars an actor with cerebral palsy. In November 2016, her upcoming feature, Melt, was announced.

Since 1991, Gollan has also worked as an occasional presenter on Play School, where she presents in Auslan.

She is the daughter of Jean Bedford and Peter Corris.

Sources:

• IMDB
• 'Sofya's Voice', The Age, 27 May 2003.